Kashmir’s green gold burns

Srinagar, Feb 17: Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a surge in forest fires due to an ongoing dry spell, causing significant damage to the region’s green cover.

In the past 24 hours alone, five major fire incidents have been reported across different districts of Kashmir.

A massive fire broke out on Saturday evening in the Pinglish Shikargah wildlife and forest area of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

The flames quickly spread to nearby areas, including Kamla, Karmulla, Lurgam, and Panzoo.

A joint team comprising the Forest Department, Wildlife Department, Social Forestry, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and locals rushed to contain the blaze.

“Ninety-five percent of the fire in the Pinglish wildlife zone has been controlled, with no active flames remaining - only smoke from decayed stumps. The fire in Panzoo forest has been completely extinguished,” an official said.

However, the fire has already caused significant damage to the local flora and fauna.

Another fire erupted on Sunday evening in the Brar Salia village of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, affecting approximately 6 kanal forest land before being brought under control. Fire also broke simultaneously in Dadoo, Marhama village of Bijbehara in the same district, damaging a good chunk of green gold.

Earlier that morning, another major blaze had broken out in Compartment 20/K of Aloosa in Khuihama village in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. A separate fire was also reported in Compartment 110/K in Arin, Ajas in the same district.

Emergency response teams, including the Forest Department and Forest Protection Force (FPF), acted swiftly to prevent further spread.

“The fire engulfed vast stretches of forest land but was controlled in time,” an official said.

Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Kashmir, Irfan Rasool Wani, acknowledged the increasing number of forest fires and attributed them to the prolonged dry conditions.

“Fortunately, none of the fires so far have been extremely severe,” he told Greater Kashmir.

Experts point to both climate factors and human negligence as the primary causes of these fires.

The prolonged dry spell has heightened the susceptibility of the forests to fires and a significant number of such incidents have been reported recently.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Forest Survey of India (FSI) had already issued a warning in late January about a heightened risk of forest fires.

In response, the Forest Department, Wildlife Department, Fire and Emergency Services, and Disaster Management Authority are on high alert to tackle such incidents.

Officials have urged residents to report any signs of fire immediately to Fire and Emergency Services to prevent escalation.

While some forest fires occur naturally, human activities significantly contribute to their frequency and intensity. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Lidder Division, Shama Roohi, cautioned against practices like illegal coal and wood collection, which can inadvertently ignite fires.

“Given the dry conditions, it is crucial to avoid entering forests and lighting any form of fire. Forests are our natural wealth, and it is our collective responsibility to protect the green gold,” she told Greater Kashmir.

Environmental experts have already raised an alarm that rising temperatures and extended dry spells, likely linked to climate change, may lead to an increase in the frequency and intensity of forest fires in Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir has a forest cover of 21,387 sq km and a tree cover of 2867 sq km, constituting about 10 percent of its total geographical area.

The region’s forests, predominantly dry temperate, are home to valuable species like Deodar, Kail, and Fir, which thrive at different altitudes.

Several forest fires were also reported in December, particularly in the Chenab Valley, but these subsided following the season’s first snowfall in late December.

However, with no significant precipitation since then, the risk remains high.